Patrick Espinet: "The sea is a family passion"
Patrick Espinet, an author from Le Beausset, publishes his first novel "Les Fleurs du sel" about a family of fishermen from Sanary.
With his first book "Les Fleurs du sel – Sanary-sur-Mer - 1988", Patrick Espinet follows a family of fishermen between 1988 and 1994.
A novel taken out of the drawer
Twenty years ago, the author started this novel before putting it away in a drawer. It was ultimately retirement that brought him back to its pages: "I wasn't very used to inactivity," he confides.
Limited in his activities by health issues, it was his wife who pushed him to get back to it: "Since you're going around in circles, why not pick up your novel again?".
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Reworked and then completed, the manuscript won over the publishing house Lire-Couraut and was published in April.
A family of fishermen
The novel takes place in Sanary-sur-Mer in 1988 and tells the story of a family of five. Andéol, the 47-year-old father, is a fisherman like his ancestors. He lives with his wife Mathilde, 46, and their three children: José, 20, who works with him, Roseline, soon to be 17, and Sylvain, 15.
Their modest but happy daily life is turned upside down by the shipwreck of the family boat. The narrative runs until 1994, with, the author promises, "quite a few twists and turns and moments that touch deeply on emotion".
The choice of the year 1988 stems from a personal memory, that of a happy period and a time of freedom "where we could do certain things that we can no longer afford to do today".
Born in Toulon, the author lives in Le Beausset but speaks of Sanary with tenderness, a municipality that has remained a village in his eyes: "When you walk along the port and see all these pointus in shimmering colors lined up side by side, it's a delight for the eyes".
An inherited passion
Patrick Espinet's attachment to the sea comes from his family. His father was a leisure boat owner and his grandfather, after thirty years in the Marine nationale, had befriended many fishermen.
The title of the book comes from one of these fishermen: "When a sailor died at sea, he used to say that he had gone 'to gather the flowers of salt', an expression to soften the grief of families, and especially that of children".
"These are people who risk their lives every day, a bit like firefighters, but to feed us," the author recalls.
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The writer composes without an outline, which results in a story that is sometimes "winding, like a road". Writing remains a relaxation, and, surprised by the favorable reception, he has already started a 90-page sequel.
Yet his career was far from literature. He spent 22 years as a commercial representative in the private sector, then became a technical manager in the territorial public service. From 2014 to 2020, he was also deputy mayor, in charge of technical services, works, and water management.
His attachment to the region is such that, when he was working, he refused transfers so as not to leave his seaside: "It goes that far, still," he smiles.
Meet the author
Patrick Espinet will be signing books on November 28 at the médiathèque of Sanary-sur-Mer.
Article from the print edition of La Gazette du Var